Kyle McCloud initially wanted to open his business in Columbia County. But when his request was denied, McCloud turned to Lincoln County, which helped him find a building and wrote a law that would allow his type of business to open there.
McCloud owns Back Paddle Brewing, a nanobrewery located at 3472 Bethany Church Road in Lincolnton. Back Paddle is referred to as a nanobrewery because it only brews 31 gallons of beer, the equivalent of two kegs, at a time. It’s smaller than a microbrewery, but he said the terms are often used interchangeably.
The brewery serves a rotating menu of beers, including stouts, lagers, and IPAs. One of his current beers is called #SaveStay, which was brewed in honor of Stay. Social Tap + Table and its owner, Renee Hajek, fight to keep her restaurant’s alcohol license.
“We never keep the same beers on tap,” he said. “In 2021, we brewed just over 50 beers; In 2022, we are on track to brew 100.”
McCloud loves craft beers and has brewed his own at home for many years. Back Paddle’s beers often have unique names, such as A Slow Bullet and Cat Lying in the Sun.
McCloud opened the brewery in October 2020 in a building that used to serve as a bait-and-tackle shop and said the fact that the business is so far away from many other parts of the CSRA has been a challenge.
“Being as far out as we are, people live here, but they don’t necessarily work here,” said McCloud, an 11-year veteran of the U.S. Navy.
He often reminds people that traveling to Lincolnton may require a longer drive, but it’s still part of the CSRA.
“I advocate for Lincoln County almost as much as I do for the brewery,” McCloud said.
He said only a small number of his customers live in Lincoln County, which according to the U.S. Census Bureau, had a population of 7,690 in April 2020. The majority come from nearby McCormick or Columbia County, particularly Appling, Martinez, and Evans.
Of course, Back Paddle’s proximity to Clarks Hill Lake also helps to bring in customers.
“From mid-April to mid-October, business is amazing,” McCloud said. “The rest of the year, it’s still good.”
He grew up in Michigan and worked in diners and ski resorts. After leaving the military, McCloud earned his culinary degree from Ivy Tech Community College in Indiana and worked as an apprentice at the University of Notre Dame. He left that apprenticeship to accept a job as a contractor at Fort Gordon, which is where he currently works four days a week.
His wife, mother-in-law, and 15-year-old son also work at Back Paddle. Besides beer, the brewery also serves a variety of foods, including hamburgers, various types of tacos, and hot dogs. All the meat it serves is locally sourced.
“I love serving people,” McCloud said. “That’s what called me to the military and brought me back to food and beverage.”
He also believes in serving the community through the business’s Beer 4 Good initiative. Each spring, Back Paddle hosts a live music event to raise money for charities. On April 22, 2023, the event will include several musicians, including country music singer Ray Fulcher. Proceeds from the event will go to the Lincoln County High School and Harlem High School Band Boosters.
McCloud plans to open a second location in Harlem and hopes to have it ready to open by next summer.
Back Paddle Brewing is open Wednesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, visit the business’s Facebook page or call 706-359-8057.
